A.
Thursday, April 28, 1977
University Daily Kansan
Comment
Opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Kansas or the School of Journalism
Defense is deficient
Recent speculation about the Soviet Union's having a far better civil defense system than the United States apparently was behind a civil defense budget boost of $44.8 million approved Monday by the House of Representatives.
The appropriation is hoped to be a stepping stone toward the planning of more precise programs and correcting the vast deficiencies in the U.S. civil defense program. Although the intelligence community doesn't know the extent of the Soviet program, many researchers in the United States contend that the Russians are far ahead of us in preparedness for nuclear attacks or radioactive fallouts.
Soviet preparations are to include:
*Compulsory training for children in the
nuclear age.
- Special classes for men 16 to 60 years old, and women 16 to 55 years old.
- Periodic drills at factories and practical training exercises during national war game exercises for more than 20 million Soviet youth.
*$shelters in apartments building hasty* shelter in ongoing evacuation area.
The U.S. national emergency preparation system does sound well-planned, but figures show that Americans would be left in bad place if nuclear attack were to hit this country today.
For instance, on the second Wednesday of each month, raid warning sirens are sounded throughout the United States for testing purposes. While the sirens blow, Americans simply ignore them and go about their business. A sudden attack would surely leave many people among the country's ruins.
Many people also wouldn't know how to call the Emergency Broadcasting System if an attack were to occur, or where their nearest fallout shelter was. Even if they knew the general vicinity of a shelter, they still might have trouble finding it. Over half
or the country's shelters aren't marked with the familiar yellow-and-black signs.
EVEN THOSE finding shelters might not survive long. The government stored 55 million pounds of candy, 7.4 million pounds of wheat wafers and 258.8 million pounds of biscuits in warehouses and shelters, most of during the war. But these materials and it is being fed to American pigs. Ten million water containers also are on hand, but they're empty to prevent rust.
Studies show that there are civil defense directors in more than 6,000 local jurisdictions, but a scant percentage of them are fully trained. The training of American school children also is a joke—they aren't able to hide under their school desks any more.
Add to these woes the thin appropriations by the federal government in recent years. Last year's budget was cut by nearly 25 per cent to $82.5 million. Only $94 million had been requested by the Pentagon for this year's budget before the House action Monday increased it to a total of $134.8 million. Some have attributed the different attitude of Congress to the civil defense gap with the Soviet Union, while others say it's because of the recent Russia rejection of a U.S. strategic arms proposal.
NEVERTHELESS, only a group of researchers, led by a University of Miami director of Soviet studies, have been able to develop an idea of Soviet strengths in civil defense.
But the CIA hasn't looked at Soviet capabilities for six or seven years. The agency did conduct a crash program last summer when it heard of the so-called gap, but that program has failed to turn up anything.
The United States is still spending far less than it should in improving its civil defense program. But the 50 per cent increase just approved is an improvement of recent Congressional attitudes. And it just might be a step in the right direction.
Prayer is last resort in campus traffic fright
Dear God
You're probably wondering why I'm praying to you. I know haven't been one of your best friends. You've been a point of desolation. If you
you, God. Couldn't you please make the cars go a little slower on campus after dark? PLEEEEEEZE? I try best to look both ways before crossing the street, but some of those
Diane Wolkow
Editorial Writer
don't help me, I don't know who else to go to.
It's already 7 p.m. and my white jacket is at the dryclearer's, so I have to wear a black windbreaker instead, and I'm wearing blue jeans and I have to stay on campus real late.
The truth is, I'm scared to walk across the street after dark, dressed like this. I looked for a white arm band to wear on my neck. I didn't have a reflector sticker off my bicycle. But I couldn't find anything.
OH WELL, they probably wouldn't help, anyway. The cars shoot down Jayhawk and the car fast they won't even notice me.
Which is why I'm talking to
cars shoot around the curve by the law building so fast that I don't notice them in time, either.
You see, God, last week when I walked back from class, three cars nearly hit me in front of the museum. I tried to be careful, but I guess they didn't care who they rammed down.
IT'S ESPECIALLY bad on a rainy day. Not only do I have to fear for my life when I finally get up the nerve to cross the road, but I have to wait by the pedestrian cross-walks while those heated, covered cars fly past.
shopping center that had bumps in the parking lot to keep cars from speeding. Maybe you have those in on Jayhawk Boulevard?
Maybe, if none of those drivers will listen to you, you can do something else about it. The other day, I was at a
I know my suggestion probably won't stop many people. But maybe if a few guys get their cars knocked out of alignment, they'll slow down. And then maybe the word will get out that Jayhawk Boulevard is a nasty place to speed.
OR MAYBE people shouldn't be allowed to drive on campus at all, regardless of the hour.
You see, the reason I'm asking for your help is that I only have two years to get up and do what I don't have from college. School hasn't killed me yet (though sometimes I really thought it would). I'd like to live a little longer, but I just want to outlive in the real world.
The lead editorial in Monday's Kansas criticized former President Gerald Ford for "criticizing" President James Carter. Such behavior, the editor said, was unbecoming of
I thank you for your time and attention. Now I gotta run to the meeting tonight. I'll put a few coins for you in my blue box.
Thanks. God.
Ford's criticism of Carter O.K.
scope of Ford's remarks and the unlimited reaction of Carter, his vice president and the press, it seems that the pointed attack of Ford was a lead editorial, which theoretically expresses a viewpoint supported by the newspaper as a whole, supposedly carries a message that the office staff deems important and worthy of comment.
Ideas are easy to come by, but turning them into interesting, informative and accurate article is difficult. From experience, I realize that desperation is often the reason I write about certain topics. It takes a lot of time, but Ford's so-called cankerworth personality and subsequent remarks about Carter's first 100 days seemed to be a subject worthy of comment.
accounts of Ford's remarks and the reaction to those remarks by Democrats were widely publicized. What is disturbing,
THE INFORMATION from which the editorial was written was easily accessible. News
IN THIS CASE, it is doubtful that the staff of the Kansan was in agreement with the sub-ordinator, and so reason it was written anyway. Before dealing with the thrust of the words directed against Ford, I would like to discuss some of the practical considerations that make writing extremely difficult.
THERE ARE several good reasons why Ford should refrain from "criticizing" the Carter administration. None of
however, is the relationship between Ford's comments and Carter's reaction to them.
Brent Anderson
Editorial Writer
Once that information is in the public eye, via the pages of local newspapers, you can learn about the first to criticize and analyze it. Unfortunately, no one takes the time to consider whether that information is substantive, but with a big reaction to a little event.
KEEP IN mind that it was Mondale who quoted Carter as saying how upset he was about Ford's public remarks, not that he press, once again, willing to play up any information a President or vice president wants to, especially when that information appears to be universal or potentially riotous.
Perhaps Ford shouldn't have told a political science class at the University of Michigan that he thought Carter was overly interested in agreement with the Soviet Union. But his comments on the subject, which were uninteresting and painfully obvious at best, hardly were worth the attention he's given to *Mrs.'s* and *Montale's* reactions.
them,however,were mentioned in Monday's editorial.
and associate him with former President Richard M. Nixon. Then, the Carter people would react the way they did. But, rather than spend the rest of his life on the couch, Ford decided to speak out.
The most obvious reason is exactly what happened. Carter's people could yell dirty words, because he has hungry, say he has sour grapes
Second premature comments by Ford could conceivably undermine our nation's position on immigration and the Union. Now, after Carter has decided to pursue a unique foreign policy, to think that Ford's comments could unquestionably that policy is in incongruous
TO SAY THAT Ford should shut up because former
presidents traditionally don't say anything bad about the current President is equally ludicrous.
In truth, Ford has been remarkably剩难 then far and to say that he has behaved improperly and not as a distinguished man, or the facts. He has continued to exhibit the 'touch of class' shown during the transition, and, if what he has said about the Carter administration smacks of political haymaking, as was evident only because an overly sensitive President and vice president are riding the baler.
Counting friends disquieting job
The current issue of Esquire magazine concerns itself with an important—nay, the ultimate question—'Is '1977. Do you know who your friends are?'
That's quite a question for Esquire to pose, and quite a question to ponder. But if you ponder for too long, as I did, you may come up with a disheartening answer.
have today are the friends you will have forever." Clever words for an old coot, but they're not true.
There was a time when I thought I had more friends than I had fingers and boes. To take the fun of writing out diary hours writing out lists of friends who would show up at my funeral, should I die that day. The list—admittedly a real estimate—was enormous.
AND I THOUGHT that even if I died 1965 later, those same people would still be there, like loval St. Bernards.
An old sage whom I used to wheel around at the rest home once told me, "The friends you
Remember what was said the
Perhaps that's why some members of my high school class suddenly decided to have lunch with the teacher. I don't plan to go, because mer. I don't plan to go, because
Stewart Brann
Editorial Editor
TIME AND DISTANCE have indeed come between us - five years and the infinite distance between Lawrence and my hometown. Very few of us have kept in touch.
night of your high school graduation? I do. Everyone in "the old crowd" moped around and went to the store. "No time either nor distance can come between us," or comforting things like, "I can't say goodly, so I'll say good luck if I can." "No, course I'll learn in touch."
I've a good idea what I'd learn about "the old crowd."
Mary, (not her real name), the best debater in our class, is on her second marriage and is expecting her third kid. She sells Avon and will probably be taking orders at the reunion room where we are such good friends, I would probably order something.
TED, THE VICE president of the college, tried class for half a semester, but it didn't agree. She sold herself and make twice the income 1
could ever hope to make as a journalist. Because we are such good friends, I would listen to him talk for two hours as he explained why the policy he would allow students to work better than the one I've already got. And he might even convince me to switch.
Lyle, who was sort of a drip in high school, is now president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. We were friends our first year, but the only one who would converse with me, and vice versa. He is still a drip and would try to talk into me coming back home for him when I graduate. He would not convince me.
CAROL, ONCE a shy, intelligent high school senior, is to begin her doctorate in biophysics at UCLA. She has come out of her shell, and she'll be at the reunion to flank her
accomplishments. I would attempt to discuss recent developments in the field of biophysics with her, because we were such good friends and used to discuss intelligent things.
Dona, a girl whom I used to date, is poor and fat. She can't seem to hold down a job for more than a month. Because we were such good friends five years when she was in him, attractive and ambitious, probably would avoid her all evening.
As for me, I've yet to begin my career. I have no spouse, no kids, no steady income. I haven't yet succeeded at whatever it is we're supposed to succeed at. I be a real bore at home and I'm not sure of the question on the cover of Euquire would haunt me all evening.
I once knew who my friends were. I don't want to go to home to know who they aren't.
Grammarizers should get gong
SCRABBLE, Va. - I got up about 5:30 one morning last week to finish Edwin Newman's new book before breakfast. After breakfast I drove the new car down to Woodville for the first time and invented an invention. It is furry how these things happen.
Newman's book, "A Civil Tongue," is a delightful sequel to the 1975 book. In 1975, once again he wages war against the abuses that constantly are heaped upon the defenseless English language. He finds targets in the bureaucracy, of course, and in
James J. Kilpatrick
the realms of education,
sociology, art criticism and
sports. His book is a long, happy
assault upon such atrocities as
"remediation" and "ongoing
major thrust." Every person who writes for publication ought to牵 this volume to his heart.
ABOUT THE new car. This is called a granado, manufactured by Mr. Ford. It comes equipped with two warning buzzers and six or eight cautionary lights. You can also power to put the matter bluntly, are godawful. One of them goes off if you open the driver's door while the keys are in the ignition switch. It's like having a snowmobile in your ear. The other one is worse. It goes off if you don't flash your tail light. You need power saw in your other ear. The lights make no noise, but glare at you with little red eyes.
These gadgets have a purpose. They are intended to help you do without being told, such as taking out the keys before I lock them in the car, and to warn me of overlapped: "DOOR JAAR"
THIS IS the invention. In every newspaper city room, in every government office, in every magazine publishing house, in every database. This would resemble the control panels of a space ship. The console would be equipped with an assortment of
cowbells, raspberries, buzzer,
Chinese gongs and perhaps a
thousand warning lights. The
whole thing would be hooked to
the speaker, the controller
would be hooked to every
typewriter in the place.
It is a glorious prospect, is it not? Noisy, gaudy and glorious. This marvelous machine would be programmed, for example, to retrieve all the pandits pundit wrote that something "remains to be seen." At the Washington Post, you'd have the sound effects of a five-alarm fire in a cynical factory. The Post as a result of the Anita Bryant incident, the Post recently pronounced, "remains to be seen." GONG! Whether certain amendments to a Senate bill were passed, the Post remains to be seen." GONG! The nature of a tax program "remains to be seen." GONG! On Dec. 13, 1972, a memorable date, the Post was in back-to-back sentences GONG! GONG! JACKPOT!
THE MACHINE would five a roman cake at "single most," as in "the single most influential group of Jewish leaders in the country." The Washingtonian magazine recently reported on the "single most embarrassing estate in the District." Last month my best beloved colleague, William Buckley, recounted "the single most embarrassing thing" that happened to the liberals in the '50s. Two weeks ago the Arkansas Gazette reported the "single most embarrassing Postal Service's inflation problem." Z-ZAAP! POW! My admonitory monster would light up a red eye at "old cliche," "old adage," "oem
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ponent parts” and “fatal slaying.” the bureaucrat who wrote “prioritize” would get a Bronx cheer. In the presence of this machine, no educationist would winkle at structural modules” when be meant “classrooms.” Bells would tinkle at “ground rules,” “past experience,” “future prospects” and “urban crisis situation” whenever the roof is detected on all sides,” a smoke bomb would explode and the roof would fall in.
Univ utility stretch visual
The 1975, v
Classes Peter
School buildi
year 1
Developing a comprehensive program for the machine would be the work of a lifetime, or of ten lifetimes, or a hundred. The computer would not read of a slain Alabama sheriff who was "funeralized," or of a woman minister who felt "inferiorized," or of politicians who "overstrategize," or of influences that are "rigidized." We might, if Edwin Newman wrote the muscular body of a beautiful language now sorely burdened by flab.
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KANSAN
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